Decanter assembly



Jan. 15, 1963 E. DAVIDSON DEQANTER ASSEMBLY Filed May 17, 1961 INVENTOR.EM/L DA WDJ ON ATTORIVIYS.

United States Patent F 3,073,473 DECANTER ASSEMBLY Emil Davidson,Scarsdale, N.Y., assignor to Guild Molders, Inc., Elmsford, N.Y., acorporation of New York Filed May 17, 1961, Ser. No. 110,724 9 Claims.(Cl. 215'-.-48)

The present invention relates generally to a closure for a decanter, andin particular to an improved stopper for such closure.

The usual decanter which has found widespread use in the sale ofalcoholic beverages including wines and whiskeys comprises a decanterbody or bottle having a neck which is bounded by a substantiallycylindrical neck wall defining a dispensing opening. The decanter bottleis closed by a closure which includes a depending stoppermounting membercarrying thereon a stopper. Such stopper is usually fabricated of corkwhich, although relatively frangible, provides a fluid-tight seal forthe dispensing opening of the decanter bottle. The use of a cork stopperprovides many problems, both at the level of the manufacturer and theconsumer. Cork being a natural product is often in limited supply, andis relatively expensive, and exhibits a rather high order of surfaceporosity thereby requiring a relatively large area seal to provide afluid-tight closure. Further, due to its fragility, it is not uncommonfor the stopper to break and/or to loosen from the closure proper. Stillfurther, experience indicates that a cork stopper often imparts a tasteto the liquid in the decanter. Accordingly, it is not uncommon forgasketing to be employed in conjunction with such cork stoppers toimpart the necessary structural strength thereto and to somewhat isolatethe same from the contents of the decanter. Of course, thisrepresents asubstantial increase in the cost of the closure, due both to theadditional cost of materials and to the expense of the labor necessaryto complete the assembly.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedclosure for a decanter which obviates one or more of the aforesaiddifiiculties.

Plastics which may be readily molded, such as polyethylene, have beenfound to exhibit the requisite properties to replace the conventionalcork stopper for closures. Polyethylene is impervious to attack byliquor, imparts a minimal taste thereto (at least in an amount less thancork), has a low order of surface porosity, and is relativelyinexpensive. With available molding techniques, this material isadaptable to provide a relatively low cost one-piece stopper suitable toreplace the cork stopper. Various types of polyethylene stoppers havebeen suggested, but none have gained widespread commerical acceptancefor a variety of reasons, including without limitation, the diflicultyof providing a fluid-tight closure in the neck of the decanter bottle,the difficulty of attaining a leakproof seal between the stopper and thestopper-mounting member of the closure and the relative complexity inassembling the stopper on the stoppermounting member of the closure.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improvedstopper for a decanter closure which may be fabricated by injectionmolding techniques, ernploying polyethylene and other similar moldableplastics, and is capable of flexing radially to accommodate itself toirregularities in the dispensing opening of the decanter 3,673,473Patented Jan. 15, 1963 bottle and the diameter thereof, yet provides afluid-tight seal to the stopper-mounting member of the closure.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating objects andfeatures of the present invention there is provided an improved stopperfabricated of a resilient plastic which is adapted to be used in adecanter of the type including a neck having a substantially cylindricalneck opening and a closure for the decanter which includes a dependingstopper-mounting member. The stopper is mounted on a stopper-mountingmember and is adapted to provide a fluid-tight seal for the dispensingopen ng, despite variations in diameter from dispensing opening todispensing opening and inherent irregularities which exist in the neckwalls incident to the manufacture of such glass decanter bottles. Thestopper includes cylindrlcal inner and outer walls which are disposed incoaxial relation and cooperate to provide an annular space therebetween.The inner wall is of a diameter to provide a tight fit over the stoppermounting member, while the outer wall is of a diameter to provide atight fit within the neck wall of the decanter bottle. A plurality ofcircumferentially spaced ribs bridge the annular space and" interconnectthe inner and outer walls, with the ribs being arranged relative to eachother to permit the stopper to readily accommodate to irregularities inthe neck wall. Advantageously, the desired radial flexibility may beimparted to the stopper by arranging the ribs in pairs which are curvedand in spaced relation to each other, with each pair of ribs beingpositioned relative to each other and of a curvature to lie on thecommon circle having a diameter1 less than the spacing between the innerand outer wa s.

As a further feature of the invention, the mounting of the stopper onthe stopper-mounting member is such that at least the inner wall of thestopper is placed into longitudinal compression when assembled on thestoppermounting member to urge the inner wall into sealing contact withthe stopper-mounting member and thereby pro vide an exceptionally goodfluid-tight seal between the components of the closure, yet afford therequisite flexibility to the stopper.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features andadvantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated byreference to the following detailed description of a presentlypreferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment according to thepresent invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, with parts broken away and sectioned, ofan improved decanter stopper embodying features of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of FIG.1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view showing the improved decanter stopperillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 mounted on a closure or top for a decanter,the latter being shown in section; and,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale taken substantiallyalong the line 44 of FIG. 3, with the decanter closure and its dependingstopper-mounting member not sectioned.

Referring now specifically to the drawing, there is shown an improveddecanter stopper, generally designated by the reference numeral 10,which is adapted to be mounted on the depending stopper-mounting member12 of a closure or top 14 such as to provide a fluid-tight seal for adecanter bottle or body 16 including a neck 18 having a substantiallycylindrical internal neck wall 20 bounding and defining a dispensingopening.

As seen best in FIGS. 1 and 2, the stopper is of a unitary constructionand is preferably fabricated of a resilient plastic, such aspolyethylene, and which may be injection molded. The stopper includes acylindrical inner wall 22 and a cylindrical outer wall 24 which isspaced therefrom. The inner and outer walls 22, 24 are disposed incoaxial relation and cooperate to define an annular space 26therebetween. The inner wall 22 is of a diameter to provide a tight fitover the stopper-mountin g member 12 (see FIG. 4), while the outer wall24 is of a diameter to provide a tight fit with the neck wall ordispensing opening of the decanter bottle or body 16 (see FIG. 3).Preferably the outer wall 24 is provided with a plurality ofcircumferentially extending and longitudinally spaced sealing glands 28,as seen best in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4.

The inner and outer walls 22 and 24 are interconnected by a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced ribs which bridge the annular space 26 andinterconnect the inner and outer walls, one such pair being seen in FIG.2 and designated by the reference numeral 30, 32. The successive pairsof ribs 30, 32 are curved and in facing relation, with each pair of ribsbeing positioned relative to each other and of a curvature to lie on acommon circle having a diameter greater than the spacing between theinner and outer Walls 22, 24. The ribs are of substantially the samethickness as the walls 22, 24 and merge into such walls. With this ribarray, which may be attained by injection molding, it is found that theouter wall 24 of the stopper 10 may readily accommodate by radialcompression to varying contours and diameters presented by the neck ordispensing opening 20 as encountered in commercial practice.

At its upper end, the outer wall 24 is provided with a radiallyextending sealing flange 34 which is adapted to overlie and bear againstthe upper edge 18a of the neck wall 13 contiguous to the dispensingopening 20 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The sealing flange prevents glass toglass contact between the closure 14 and the bottle 16 and serves as astop to prevent the stopper 10 from entering the bottle 16. At its lowerend, the outer wall 24 is joined to the inner wall 22 by a cross wall 36which is of frusto-conical shape, with its larger diameter end integralwith the lower end of the outer wall 24 and its smaller diameter lowerend integral with the inner wall 22.

The junction of the inner wall 22 and the cross wall 36 merge into anannular sealing ring 38 at the lower end of the stopper 10, whichsealing ring 38 is inwardly directed and has an inner diameter less thanthe inner diameter of the inner wall 22. The radially-extending sealingflange 34 and the sealing ring 38 are spaced in relation to each othersuch that at least the inner wall 22 of the stopper 10 is placed intolongitudinal compression when assembled on the stopper-mounting member12 such as to urge the inner wall 22 into intimate fluidsealing contactwith the stopper-mounting member 12. To this end, and as seen best inFIG. 4, the stoppermounting member 12 terminates at its upper end inshoulder or seating member 12a having an enlarged diameter while thelower' end thereof is provided with an annular seat 1212 which merges atits upper end with the stopper-mounting member proper and at its lowerend with an enlarged bead or retaining lip 120. The sealing flange 34and the sealing ring 38 of the stopper 10 are arranged in relation tothe shoulder 12a and the annular seat 1212 such that upon assembly ofthe stopper 10 onto the stopper-mounting member 12, as shown in FIG. 4,with the sealing flange 34 abutting the shoulder 12a and the sealingring 38 accommodated within the seat 12]), the inner wall 22 of thestopper 10 is placed into longitudinal compression to provide a tightseal against the stopper-mounting member 12. To this end the reinforcingor connecting ribs 30, 32 terminate short of the upper end of thestopper as defined by the upper face of the sealing flange 34 to providean annular clearance space, generally designated by the referencenumeral 40 in FIG. 4, such that the adjacent upper end 22a of the innerwall 22 may be flexed outwardly in response to such longitudinalcompression.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that there has been providedin accordance with the present invention an improved stopper assemblyfor a decanter bottle or like container which is of unitary constructionsuch that it may be manufactured on a mass production basis atrelatively low unit cost by injection molding from an appropriateplastic, such as polyethylene. The stopper is relatively impervious toattack by wines, whiskeys, liquors and the like and imparts minimaltaste to such beverages. The stopper is of a construction which readilyaccommodates to the dispensing opening into which it is inserted, andalthough affording this requisite flexibility or resiliency, provides afluid tight seal to its supporting member. The assembly of the stopperonto its supporting member involves a relatively simple manualoperation; and incident to such assembly the requisite joinder of thestopper to its supporting member is achieved to virtually precludeleakage.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in theforegoing disclosure and in some instances some features of theinvention will be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims beconstrued broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scopeof the invention herein.

I claim: I

1. For use ina decanter including a neck having a substantiallycylindrical neck wall bounding a dispensing opening and a closure forsaid decanter including a depending stopper-mounting member, theimprovement comprising a stopper fabricated of a resilient plasticmounted on said stopper-mounting member and adapted to provide afluid-tight seal for said dispensing opening, said stopper includingcylindrical inner and outer Walls disposed in coaxial relation andcooperating to define an annular space therebetween, said inner wallbeing of a diameter to provide a tight fit over said stopper-mountingmember and said outer wall being of a diameter to provide a tight fitwithin said neck wall, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribsbridging said annular space and interconnecting said inner and outerwalls, said ribs being arranged relative to each other to permit radialcompression of said outer wall about its circumferential extent topermit said stopper to accommodate to irregularities in said neck wall,said ribs being further arranged to provide a substantially uniformradial compressive strength about said inner and outer walls of saidstopper.

2. For use in a decanter including a neck having a substantiallycylindrical neck wall bounding a dispensing opening and a closure forsaid decanter including a depending stopper-mounting member, theimprovement comprising a stopper fabricated of a resilient plasticmounted on said stopper-mounting member and adapted to provide afluid-tight seal for said dispensing opening, said stopper includingcylindrical inner and outer walls disposed in coaxial relation andcooperating to define an annular space therebetween, said inner wallbeing of a diameter to provide a tight fit over said stopper-mountingmember and said outer wall being of a diameter to provide a tight fitwithin said neck and wall, and a plurality of circumferentially spacedribs bridging said annular space and interconnecting said inner andouter walls, said ribs being arranged relative to each other to permitradial compression of said outer wall about its circumferential extentto permit said stopper to accommodate to irregularities in said neckwall, said ri-bs being arranged in pairs which are curved and in facingrelation, each pair of ribs being positioned in relation to each otherand of a curvature to lie on a common circle having a diameter greaterthan the spacing between said inner and outer walls.

3. In a decanter including a neck having a substantially cylindricalneck wall bounding a dispensing opening and a closure for said decanterincluding a depending stopper-mounting member having an annular seatadjacent the free end thereof and a shoulder spaced therefrom, a stopperfabricated of a resilient plastic mounted on said stopper-mountingmember and adapted to provide a fluid-tight seal for said dispensingopening, said stopper including cylindrical inner and outer wallsdisposed in coaxial relation and cooperating to define an annular spacetherebetween, said inner wall being of a diameter to provide a tight fitover said stopper-mounting member and said outer wall being of adiameter to provide a tight fit within said neck wall, a plurality ofcircumferentia'lly spaced ribs bridging said annular space andinterconnecting said inner and outer walls, said ribs being arrangedrelative to each other to permit radial compression of said outer wallabout its circumferential extent to permit said stopper to accommodateto irregularities in said neck wall, means providing an abutmentadjacent one end of said stopper engaging said shoulder when saidstopper is assembled on said stopper-mounting member, and meansproviding an annular seal adjacent the other end of said stopper engagedwithin said annular seat when said stopper is assembled on saidstopper-mounting member, said abutment and annular seal being spaced inrelation to said shoulder and rib respectively such that at least saidinner wall of said stopper is placed into longitudinal compression whenassembled on said stopper-mounting member to urge said inner wall intosealing contact with said stopper-mounting member.

4. In a decanter according to claim 3 wherein said neck wall terminatesin an upper edge, said abutment provides a radially-extending sealingflange bearing against said upper edge when said closure is inserted insaid dispensing opening.

5. In a decanter including a neck having a substantially cylindricalneck wall bounding a dispensing opening and a closure for said decanterincluding a depending stoppermounting member having an annular seatadjacent the free end thereof and a shoulder spaced therefrom, a stopperfabricated of a resilient plastic mounted on said stopper-mountingmember and adapted to provide a fluidtight seal for said dispensingopening, said stopper including cylindrical inner and outer wallsdisposed in coaxial relation and cooperating to define an annular spacetherebetween, said inner Wall being of -a diameter to provide a tightfit over said stopper-mounting member and said outer wall being of adiameter to provide a tight fit within said neck wall, a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced ribs bridging said annular space andinterconnecting said inner and outer walls, said ribs being arrangedrelative to each other to permit radial compression of said outer wallabout its circumferential extent to permit said stopper to accommodateto irregularities in said neck wall, means providing an abutmentadjacent one end of said stopper engaging said shoulder when saidstopper is assembled on said stopper-mounting member, and meansproviding an annular seal adjacent the other end of said stopper engagedwithin said annular ribwhen said stopper is assembled on saidstopper-mounting member.

6. In a decanter according toclaim 5, said annular seal being providedby an annular sealing ring of a diameter less than the diameter of saidinner wall of said closure.

7. In a decanter including a neck having a substantially cylindricalneck wall bounding a dispensing opening and a closure for said decanterincluding a depending stopper-mounting member having an annular seatadjacent the free end thereof and a shoulder spaced therefrom, a stopperfabricated of a resilient plastic mounted on said stopper-mountingmember and adapted to provide a fluid-tight seal for said dispensingopening, said stopper including cylindrical inner and outer wallsdisposed in coaxial relation and cooperating to define an annular spacetherebetween, said inner wall being of a diameter to provide a tight fitover said stopper-mounting member and said outer wall being of adiameter to provide a tight fit within said neck wall, a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced ribs bridging said annular space andinterconnecting said inner and outer walls, said ribs being arrangedrelative to each other to permit radial compression of said outer wallabout its circumferential extent to permit said stopper to accommodateto irregularities in said neck wall, means providing an abutmentadjacent one end of said stopper engaging said shoulder when saidstopper is assembled on said stopper-mounting member, and meansproviding an annular seal adjacent the other end of said stopper engagedWithin said annular seat when said stopper is assembled on saidstopper-mounting member, said abutment and annular seal being spaced inrelation to said shoulder and seat respectively such that at least saidinner wall of said stopper is placed into longitudinal compression whenassembled on said stoppermounting member to urge said inner Wall intosealing contact with said stopper-mounting member, said ribs beingarranged in pairs which are curved and in facing relation, each pair ofribs being positioned in relation to each other and being of a curvatureto lie on a common circle having a diameter greater than the spacingbetween said inner and outer walls.

8. For use in a decanter including a neck having a substantiallycylindrical neck wall bounding a dispensing opening and a closure forsaid decanter including a depending stopper-mounting member, theimprovement comprising a stopper fabricated of a resilient plasticmounted on said stoppenmounting member and adapted to provide afluid-tight seal for said dispensing opening, said stopper includingcylindrical inner and outer walls disposed in coaxial relation andcooperating to define an annular space therebetween, said inner wallbeing of a diameter to provide a tight fit over said stopper-mountingmember and said outer wall being of a diameter toprovide a tight fitwithin said neck wall, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribsbridging said annular space and interconnecting said inner and outerwalls, said ribs being arranged relative to each other to permit radialcompression of said outer wall about its circumferential extent topermit said stopper to accommodate to irregularities in said neck wall,said ribs being arranged in pairs which are curved and in facingrelation, each pair of ribs being positioned in relation to each otherand of a curvature to lie substantially on a common circle with eachpair of ribs merging into said inner and outer walls, said pairs of ribsproviding a substantially uniform radial compressive strength about saidinner and outer walls of said stopper.

9. In a decanter including a neck having a substantially cylindricalneck wall bounding a dispensing opening and a closure for said decanterincluding a depending stoppermounting member having an annular seatadjacent the free end thereof and a shoulder spaced therefrom, a stopperfabricated of a resilient plastic mounted on said stopper-mountingmember and adapted to provide a fluid-tight seal for said dispensingopening, said stopper including cylindrical inner and outer wallsdisposed in coaxial relation and cooperating to define an annular spacetherebetween, said inner wall being of a diameter to provide a tight fitover said stopper-mounting member and said outer wall being of adiameter to provide a tight fit within said neck wall, a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced pairs of curved ribs bridging said annularspace and interconnecting said inner and outer walls, said pairs of ribsbeing arranged relative to each other to permit radial compres- 7 8 sionof said outer wall about its circumferential extent to said inner andouter walls, said pairs of ribs providing a permit said stopper toaccommodate to irregularities in substantially uniform radicalcompressive strength about said neck wall, means providing an abutmentadjacent one said inner and outer walls of said stopper. end of saidstopper engaging said shoulder when said stopper is assembled on saidstopper-mounting member, and 5 References Cited in the file Of this Pmeans providing an annular seal adjacent the other end FOREIGN PATENTSof said stopper engaged within said annular seat when said stopper isassembled on said stopper-mounting mem- 1 gel-many g g ber, each pair ofribs being positioned in relation to 33 33 2 each other and being of acurvature to lie substantially 10 1,173,823 France Oct- 1958 on a commoncircle with each pair of ribs merging into

1. FOR USE IN A DECANTER INCLUDING A NECK HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLYCYLINDRICAL NECK WALL BOUNDING A DISPENSING OPENING AND A CLOSURE FORSAID DECANTER INCLUDING A DEPENDING STOPPER-MOUNTING MEMBER, THEIMPROVEMENT COMPRISING A STOPPER FABRICATED OF A RESILIENT PLASTICMOUNTED ON SAID STOPPER-MOUNTING MEMBER AND ADAPTED TO PROVIDE AFLUID-TIGHT SEAL FOR SAID DISPENSING OPENING, SAID STOPPER INCLUDINGCYLINDRICAL INNER AND OUTER WALLS DISPOSED IN COAXIAL RELATION ANDCOOPERATING TO DEFINE AN ANNULAR SPACE THEREBETWEEN, SAID INNER WALLBEING OF A DIAMETER TO PROVIDE A TIGHT FIT OVER SAID STOPPER-MOUNTINGMEMBER AND SAID OUTER WALL BEING OF A DIAMETER TO PROVIDE A TIGHT FITWITHIN SAID NECK WALL, AND A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED RIBSBRIDGING SAID ANNULAR SPACE AND INTERCONNECTING SAID INNER AND OUTERWALLS, SAID RIBS BEING ARRANGED RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER TO PERMIT RADIALCOMPRESSION OF SAID OUTER WALL ABOUT ITS CIRCUMFERENTIAL EXTENT TOPERMIT SAID STOPPER TO ACCOMMODATE TO IRREGULARITIES IN SAID NECK WALL,SAID RIBS BEING FURTHER ARRANGED TO PROVIDE A SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORMRADIAL COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH ABOUT SAID INNER AND OUTER WALLS OF SAIDSTOPPER.